Sprag.



F. CAULKINGS,

SPRAG. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1916.

1,220,605. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. CAULKINGS. SPRAG.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, I9?- 1,220,605. Patented Mar.27,1917

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK CAULKINGS, 0F HOBNELL, NEW YORK.

SPBAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2?. 1.917.

Application filed. July 20, 1916. Serial No. 110,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CAULKINGS, a citizen of the United States, resident of Hornell, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Sprags; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention as applied, the normal positions of the parts being shown in dotted lines, and parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the invention, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a' detail perspective view of the trigger, the bracket and the bell crank lever.

Fig. 4L is a section on the line M, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4L.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the bolt.

Fig. 7 is a similar View of the lower en of the sprag.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the upper end or head of the sprag.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the bracket to which the sprag is pivoted.

The invention has relation to sprags, or means designed for quick action, to prevent. backward movement of motor cars in case of stalling of the engine or other accident, where such movement would be dangerous to the occupants of the car.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the numeral 2 designates a bracket secured to the frame of the car and having downward projecting semicircw la r branches 8, spaced apart from each other to receive therebetween the upper end or head at of the sprag 5, pivotally connected to said bracket by bolt 6, said bolt having a squared portion 6, located in the space between the branches of the bracket and engaging a squared perforation 7 of the head 4.

The sprag is provided with a solid pointed lower end 9, usually bent downwardly and arcuately at its lower portion 9, a solid hilt 10 being located at the upper end of the part 9, said hilt and the upper end of the sprag being connected by a hollow tube 10, of strong character but light in weight, so that, upon release of the normally raised sprag, the heavy pointed end portion and hilt will fall with great rapidity to the road surface.

' In order to hold the sprag in raised position, and to provide for quick release, a lever 11, usually of bell-crank form, is pivoted at 13 to a bracket 14:, secured to the frame of the car, said lever having, at the lower end of one arm 11 thereof a connecting rod 1.5 with a crank 16 of the pivotal bolt (3. The bracket 14L has pivoted thereto at 17 an upright trigger 18, said trigger having near its lower end a downwardly projecting catch or hook 19, normally engaging over a rod or catch 20 of the other or upper arm 11 of the lever 11, said trigger engaging a slot 11 of said lever.

The upright trigger, being located within reach of the foot of the driver of the car,

will be moved forwardly to release the hook thereof from the catch 20 by a kick of the foot of the driver, the sprag falling quickly to the road surface, which will be penetrated by the pointed lower end, and backward movement of the car effectually stopped. Even in sandy ground, wherein the pointed lower end of the sprag will entirely enter, the laterally projecting hilt will take a bearing upon the road surface, to resist backward movement. The downwardly and areuately bent lower pointed portion of the sprag is designed to prevent sliding of the point upon the road surface and to insure immediate penetration of such surface, to effect a secure purchase or hold.

In resetting the device, the substantially horizontal, shorter upper arm 11 of the lever 11 is pressed downwardly by the foot of the driver, to restore said lever to normal position, the trigger 18 being engaged by the forward wall of the slot 11 of said lever and pressed backwardly past the vertical, when said trigger will automatically or through force of gravity, fall over and be reengaged with the catch 20.

. The downward movement of the sprag is limited by a wall 3* of a web 3*, connecting and forming an integral part of the branches 3, 3 of the bracket 2 and engaging the upper head 4 of the sprag, said web and wall be ing arched over and snugly fitting against the arcuate top of said head at 3, to form an effective backstop therefor and to take the strain from the pivot bolt or shaft 6, and being continued horizontally at 3, to further strengthen the bracket and to limit the upward movement of the sprag.

The angle taken by the sprag when in operative engagement with the road is fixed, and the spra g will not in any case be able to turn under the car, for the reason that the member or bracket 2 in which the sprag bolt or shaft has bearings, is rigidly secured to the rame of the car, and that the sprag in such operative position bears against said rigid wall or backstop of the bracket. In fact, even though the pivot bolt or shaft 6 be removed, the sprag will be still securely fixed in its ope ati ve position, and effectually prevent backward movement of the car.

I claim:

1. Means for preventing backward movement of vehicles, including a member rigidly secured to the frame of the vehicle and having branches spaced apart, and a sprag having an upper head pivotally engaged with said member between the branches thereof, said branches having a web connecting the same and extended over and fitting closely against the top of said upper head, to limit the angular movement of the sprag and form an effective backstop for the same.

2. Means for preventing backward move ment of vehicles, including a member rigidly secured to the frame of the vehicle and having branches spaced apart, a sprag having an upper head provided with a squared aperture, and a shaft pivotally engaged with said branches and having a squared portion engaging said aperture, said branches having a web connecting the same and extending fitting closely against the top of said'upper head to limit the pivotal movement of the sprag and form an effective backstop for the same.

4. Means for preventing backward move ment of vehicles, including a member rigidly secured to the frame of the vehicle and having branches spaced apart, a sprag having an upper head pivotally engaged with said member between the branches thereof, said branches having a web connecting the same, fitting closely against the top of said upper head and having an inclined wall limiting the pivotal movement of the sprag when in operative position, and means for maintaining said sprag in normally raised position capable of release by the driver to allow the sprag to fall to operative position including a lever having a catch and an operative connection with said shaft and a pivoted trigger having a hook normally engaging said catch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK CAULKINGS. Witnesses:

A. G. PACKARD, R. G. SPALDING.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. a 

